With nine weeks down in the 2025 USL Championship season, we’re one-quarter of the way through the regular season campaign, making it the ideal moment to take stock of what’s happened so far this campaign.

Only one club is still undefeated in league play, with Louisville City FC looking to become the first team to win consecutive Players’ Shields since Orlando City SC in 2011 and 2012, while there are some new clubs in contention for top spot in the Eastern and Western Conferences.

We’ve also seen a collection of impressive individual performances. Some of them were expected, while others have helped jumpstart their potential for individual honors at the end of the season.

Here’s where we think the race for the main five individual honors stands, we’ll check back again in a couple of months at the halfway point of the campaign.

Goalkeeper of the Year – Nico Campuzano, Monterey Bay FC

Sitting in third place in the Western Conference, Monterey Bay has been one of the stories of the season so far. Goalkeeper Nico Campuzano has been a key part of that success. The offseason arrival from Lexington SC – where he made just two appearances a season ago – has been a revelation as the club’s full-time starter while putting up outstanding top-level and underlying numbers.

Campuzano has been the busiest goalkeeper in the league with 34 saves – more than 50 percent more than his closest counterparts Jake McGuire of North Carolina FC and Matt VanOekel of Birmingham Legion FC on 21 saves apiece – but he’s also put up a remarkable save percentage of 83.9 percent and three shutouts. The Spaniard’s underlying numbers are also stellar as he sits on a Goals Prevented mark of -2.09, allowing only seven goals this season. It’s going to be fascinating to see if he can maintain close to this pace, but the 27-year-old has been outstanding so far.

Other Contenders – Alex Tambakis, New Mexico United; Damian Las, Louisville City FC; Raiko Arozarena, Las Vegas Lights FC

Defender of the Year – Talen Maples, New Mexico United

Each season, Defender of the Year always figures as the most difficult to project, especially early in the season, simply because there’s so many different qualities you can look for in the role, and as many good candidates that have a case – see a pair like Kyle Adams and Arturo Ordóñez at Louisville City, which is currently the stingiest defense in the league.

We’re going to opt for Talen Maples right now, however, simply because of how essential he’s been to United building on its success a season ago. Now in his second year at the club, Maples has become the foundation for the club’s back line both defensively and in possession – his 559 completed passes at a 92.1 percent accuracy rate are tied for the league lead among defenders. He ranks second to Matt Mahoney in American Soccer Analysis’ Goals Added metric at a +1.94 mark, too, while his leadership in the squad has been exemplary.

Other Contenders – Matt Mahoney, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC; Kyle Adams, Louisville City FC; Daltyn Knutson, Miami FC; Freddy Kleemann, Sacramento Republic FC

Coach of the Year – Ryan Martin, Loudoun United FC

There is once again a strong case to be made for Louisville City’s Danny Cruz, whose squad is the last undefeated team standing in the Championship with a quarter of the season gone. At the same time, there’s only been one instance in which a manager has claimed the award in consecutive seasons in the USL Championship’s history, and that was Adrian Heath in the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

This set-up brings us to Loudoun United’s Ryan Martin, whose side couldn’t get past LouCity when they met for the first time in the league this season but has overall taken a major leap forward as it pursues its first postseason berth. Loudoun won six of its first seven contests in the regular season – only the 10th team to earn at least 18 points in its first seven outings in league history – and has both delivered on the field and in its underlying numbers to sit on top of the Eastern Conference at this stage.

Other Contenders – Danny Cruz, Louisville City FC; Ben Pirmann, Charleston Battery; Carlos Llamosa, San Antonio FC; Wilmer Cabrera, El Paso Locomotive

Young Player of the Year – Abdellatif Aboukoura, Loudoun United FC

There are breakout seasons, and then there are breakout seasons. Abdellatif Aboukoura is in the midst of the latter, one in which with six goals he’s already set a new individual single-season best while helping drive Loudoun United to its best start in club history.

The 20-year-old old’s offseason training in Dubai has paid off beyond that, however, with the Egyptian youth international putting up strong numbers on the defensive side of the ball. Aboukoura has won 40 duels at a success rate of 56.3 percent and nine tackles at a success rate of 75 percent. The combination has made him a complete package, one that should be headed for higher levels in the manner of his predecessors in claiming this award.

Other Contenders – Collin Smith, Phoenix Rising FC; Mamadou Dieng, Hartford Athletic; Owen Damm, FC Tulsa

Player of the Year – Juan David Torres, Charleston Battery

Some good candidates for the biggest individual award of the season have emerged already, including current Golden Boot leader Darren Smith of Detroit City FC, but the step forward Juan David Torres has taken in the Battery’s attacking unit – helping keep the side in contention at the top of the Eastern Conference – gets him the nod as of now.

The Colombian has recorded three goals and is tied for the league-lead with four assists, which also puts him tied with three others for the most goal contributions in the Championship. What’s more, there’s both a flair for the spectacular Torres brings – see his Olimpico goal against Hartford – and a level of endeavor that balances his game out. The 24-year-old ranks second in the league with a +2.96 Goals Added mark, which adds to his credentials for the award so far.

Other Contenders – Darren Smith, Detroit City FC; Cal Jennings, Charleston Battery; Abdellatif Aboukoura, Loudoun United